Duplex mailing envelope



1966 H. F. M CLENEGHAN 3,266,712

DUPLEX MAILING ENVELOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1964 FIGI FIG.3

6, 1966 H. F. M CLENEGHAN 3,266,712

DUPLEX MAILING ENVELOiE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1964 FIG. 4

FIGS

United States Patent 3,266,712 DUPLEX MAILING ENVELOPE Hugh F. McCleneghan, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Kimherly-Qlark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 411,879 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-72) This invention relates to an improved envelope construction and more specifically to a duplex compartmental envelope of one-piece construction especially adapted for carrying different classes of mail.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a duplex envelope of unitary construction in which each compartment is provided with its own sealing flap.

An equally important object is to provide a duplex envelope in which the size of one compartment can be readily varied by selective application of adhesive.

A further object is to provide a duplex envelope in which both outer faces are substantially free of seams.

These and other objects are obtained by an improved construction which is easy and simple to produce and readily adapted for use with automatic machinery.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the unitary blank from which the envelope is formed.

FIG. 2 shows the side panel of FIG. 1 folded over and against the central panel thereof.

FIG. 3 shows the side fiap of FIG. 1 folded over the side panel thereof.

FIG. 4 shows the bottom panel of FIG. 1 folded over the side panel and side flap thereof to complete the envelope.

FIG. 5 is a partial view similar to FIG. 3 but showing an alternate form of carrying out the invention wherein the adhesive lines are applied to the bottom panel rather than the side panel and side flap.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a unitary envelope blank, ut and scored to provide a central main panel a main sealing flap extending from the top of central panel 10 and hinged along fold line 17 and having a gummed area 19 for sealing; a side panel 12 extending from one side of central panel 10 and hinged thereto along fold line 14; an auxiliary sealing flap 11 extending from the top of side panel 12 and hinged thereto along fold line 13 and having a gummed area for sealing on its reverse side, as shown in FIG. 2; a side flap 16 extending from the opposite side of central panel 10' and hinged thereto along fold line 18; and a bottom panel 20 extending from the bottom of central panel 10' and hinged thereto along fold line 22, the bottom panel having an optional window cut-out 24.

A stepwise representation of how the FIG. 1 blank is folded to form the envelope is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

In FIG. 2, side panel 12 is shown folded over central panel 10. As shown, the back side of auxiliary sealing flap 11 is provided with gummed area for subsequent sealing. The back side of side panel 12, which faces up in its folded position, is provided with a first set of lines of adhesive 26, 27 and 28 adjacent its two free edges and adjacent fold line 14, respectively. These lines of adhesive are utilized both to attach side panel 12 to bottom panel 20, and to form the top side of the main compartment in the envelope and the bottom side of the secondary compartment in the envelope. Side panel 12 thus becomes the central dividing wall in the assembled twocompartment envelope. When the envelope is assembled, adhesive lines 26, 27 and 28 also provide marginal stops in the uppermost compartment to define the largest size insert this secondary compartment can accommodate.

An optional second set of lines of adhesive 29 and 30 may be spaced inwardly from adhesive lines 26 and 27, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to form supplementary marginal stops defining a secondary envelope compartment of a size smaller than that defined by the first set of adhesive lines 26, 27 and 28. It will readily be seen that the second set of adhesive lines 29 and 30 may be selectively spaced and positioned at points inwardly of the first set of adhesive lines to provide a secondary envelope compartment of predetermined size and shape adjusted to fit whatever size insert the user plans to enclose in this secondary compartment. Whether or not these second lines of adhesive are used to adjust the secondary compartment size to meet user needs, the first set of adhesive lines 26, 27, and 28 are still necessary to properly form and secure the envelope together.

In FIG. 3, side flap 16 is shown folded over side panel 12. As shown, the back of side flap 16, which becomes the front when folded over side panel 12, is provided with a further line of adhesive 31, which together with the other adhesive lines securely fastens bottom panel 20 in place when the latter is folded over the side panel and side flap in assembling the envelope.

In FIG. 4, bottom panel 20 is shown folded over side panel 12 and side flap 16 and adhered thereto by means of the aforementioned adhesive lines to complete the assem-bly.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate method of applying the adhesive lines prior to assembly. As shown in this figure, adhesive lines 26a, 27a, 28a, 29a, 30a, and 31a are all applied to bottom panel 20' and replace corresponding adhesive lines 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31, respectively, which are shown in the other figures as being applied to the side panel and side fiap. When the bottom flap of FIG. 5 is folded over in the manner shown in FIG. 4, the assembly is completed in the same way as previously indicated.

After assembly, the envelope is ready for filling or stuffing. When filled, auxiliary flap 11 may be folded over along fold line 13 and sealed separately, or may be tucked behind .bottom panel 20 without sealing. Main flap 15 may then be folded on fold line 17 to seal both compartments or may be tucked behind side panel 12 without sealing.

Auxiliary flap 11, as shown, extends only partially along side panel 12, however, flap 11 may also extend the full width of side panel 12 or any fraction thereof to provide further variations.

While not shown in the drawings, it is also apparent that the vertical dimension of side panel 12 may be varied from a dimension substantially the same as main panel 10 to any suitable fraction thereof, thus, providing a large variety of arrangements in the secondary compartments dimensions. The width of side panel 12, however, should be of a dimension only slightly less than the width of main panel 10 for assembly purposes.

In addition to the above modifications, and as pointed out previously, optional second set of adhesive lines 29 and 30 may be spaced inwardly from lines 26 and 27 to adjust the dimensions of the secondary compartment to almost any size required by the user. The compartment, for example, may be made small enough for an address card; larger in size to accommodate a full-size letter, or still larger to hold an advertising leaflet or brochure.

Either or both compartments may be provided with windows in their outer face, as is well known in the art, which windows may be patched or unpatched. Since both faces of the envelope are substantially free of seams, mailing addresses or other indicia are readily applied to either face without difficulty.

The envelope, as shown and described, is also readily adapted to economical automatic machine production and by simple modification provides an almost infinite variety in the size and shape of the dual compartment envelopes which can be produced.

The separate sealing flaps for each compartment enable the envelope to carry two classes of mail. Either flap or both may be sealed'at the option of the user. 'Thus,'the envelope may be adapted to carry all first-class mail, all third-class mail, or a combination of both, at the option of the user, while fully meeting the requirements of postal regulations.

Also, because the openings of both compartments are positioned at the top of the example, it is more readily adaptable to machine stuffing and sealing than prior art envelopes.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual compartment envelope made from a unitary blank comprising a central panel having a top sealing flap, a side flap, and a bottom panel; said side panel being of a height and width slightly less than said central panel and folded over in contiguous relation therewith; said side flap being coextensive with said central panel and folded over the side edge of said folded-over side panel; said bottom panel being folded over to completely cover said side panel and said side flap and being bonded thereto by one set of adhesive lines in areas adjacent the folded-over edges of said side panel and said side flap, by another set of adhesive lines in areas adjacent the free bottom and side edges of said side panel and by a third set of adhesive lines substantially parallel with and spaced inwardly from the lines of adhesive on the free bottom and side edges of said side panel.

2. A dual compartment envelope made from a unitary blank comprising a central panel having a top sealing flap, a side panel having an auxiliary top sealing flap, a side fiap, and a bottom panel; said side panel being of an overall height and width slightly less than said central panel, with the bottom edge of said side panel cut back to shorten the vertical dimension thereof; said side panel being folded over in contiguous relation with said central panel; said side flap being coextensive with said central panel and folded over the side edge of said folded-over side panel; said bottom panel being folded over to completely cover said side panel and said side flap and being bonded thereto by one set of adhesive lines in areas adjacent the folded-over edges of said side panel and said side flap, by another set of adhesive lines in areas adjacent the free bottom and side edges of said side panel and by a third set of adhesive lines substantially parallel with and spaced inwardly from the lines of adhesive on the free bottom and side edges of said side panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 837,228 11/1906 Jackson 229-72 1,586,016 5/1926 Walters 22972 1,772,280 8/1930 Fraser 229'72 3,140,817 7/1964 Fitzgerald 22972 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,266,712 August 16, 1966 Hugh F McCleneghan It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 17, after "flap first occurrence, insert a side panel having an auxiliary top sealing flap, line 11, for "example" read envelope Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1967.

Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A DUAL COMPARTMENT ENVELOPE MADE FROM A UNITARY BLANK COMPRISING A CENTRAL PANEL HAVING A TOP SEALING FLAP, A SIDE FLAP, AND A BOTTOM PANEL; SAID SIDE PANEL BEING OF A HEIGHT AND WIDTH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN SAID CENTRAL PANEL AND FOLDED OVER IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION THEREWITH; SAID SIDE FLAP BEING COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID CENTRAL PANEL AND FOLDED OVER THE SIDE EDGE OF SAID FOLDED-OVER SIDE PANEL; SAID BOTTOM PANEL BEING FOLDED OVER TO COMPLETELY COVER SAID SIDE PANEL AND SAID FLAP AND BEING BONDED THERTO BY ONE SET OF ADHESIVE LINES IN AREAS ADJACENT THE FOLDED-OVER EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANEL AND SAID SIDE FLAP, BY ANOTHER SET OF ADHESIVE LINES IN AREAS ADJACENT THE FREE BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANEL AND BY A THIRD SET OF ADHESIVE LINES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH AND SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE LINES OF ADHESIVE ON THE FREE BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES OF SAID SIDE PANEL. 